Berklee Press Publishes the Bass Player's Handbook

Jul 23, 2002

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Berklee Press, the publishing division of the Berklee College of Music, has just released The Bass Player's Handbook, by Greg Mooter. The book provides bassists of all levels a complete guide to understanding the origin and workings of their instruments.

Carol Kaye, the bass recording legend who has appeared on over ten thousand albums such as Elvis, The Doors, The Beach Boys, and countless others, calls The Bass Player's Handbook "a critically needed book." Kaye says, "Whether you play acoustic bass or electric bass, this timely 'bible' has important information you won't find anywhere else, but is critical to every bassist. It's good to see so many subjects expounded on from an experienced player-educator's viewpoint."

Unlike standard music instruction books, The Bass Player's Handbook focuses on the history, care, and use of bass instruments, including both the double bass and the electric. Mooter also outlines fundamental concepts of proper fingering, tone production and good practice habits. The guide offers a complete explanation of how to care for the bass properly and maintain good physical health as a musician. It's packed with essential techniques including how to:

Customize the bass for one's own body, style, and sound

Understand fingerboard theory for 4-, 5-, and 6-stringed instruments, including standard and advanced techniques for both hands

Perform repairs, fix cracks, adjust the soundpost, and change strings

Make seasonal adjustments to keep one's instrument in top form

Warm up with proper exercises for a lifetime of healthy playing

About the Author

Since 1974, Greg Mooter has taught bass to well over a thousand students. He is an Associate Professor of Bass at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught since 1977. As an active studio and session player, Greg plays double bass, fretted electric, and fretless electric, frequenting jazz, rock, classical, pop and theater music circles. He studied bass at Ohio State, the University of Cincinnati and Berklee College of Music. His writing about playing bass has appeared in Bass Player magazine.